Laboratory Tests

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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here

Learn More

• Specifics

See, Play and Learn

• Videos and Tutorials

Research

• Journal Articles

Resources

• Reference Desk
• Find an Expert

For You

• Children

Summary

Laboratory tests check a sample of your blood, urine, or body tissues. A technician or your doctor analyzes the test samples to see if your results fall within the normal range. The tests use a range because what is normal differs from person to person. Many factors affect test results. These include

• Your sex, age and race
• What you eat and drink
• Medicines you take
• How well you followed pre-test instructions

Your doctor may also compare your results to results from previous tests. Laboratory tests are often part of a routine checkup to look for changes in your health. They also help doctors diagnose medical conditions, plan or evaluate treatments, and monitor diseases.

Start Here

• How to Understand Your Lab Results (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• Lab Test Information (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• Laboratory Tests (Food and Drug Administration)
• Understanding Laboratory Tests (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Specifics

• Collecting Samples for Testing (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
• Coping with Test Pain, Discomfort, and Anxiety (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
• Differential Diagnosis (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• Fasting for a Blood Test (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• Helping You Identify Quality Laboratory Services (Joint Commission) - PDF
• Home Use Tests (Food and Drug Administration)
• How Reliable Is Laboratory Testing? (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
• How to Read Your Pathology Report (College of American Pathologists)
• How You Can Get the Best Results with Home Use Tests (Food and Drug Administration)
• Putting New Laboratory Tests Into Practice (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
• Reference Ranges & What They Mean (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
• Stool Tests (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Test Preparation: Your Role (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
• Tips on Blood Testing (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
• Venous Sampling (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• Where Lab Tests Are Performed (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
• With Home Testing, Consumers Take Charge of Their Health (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
• World of Forensic Laboratory Testing (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)

Videos and Tutorials

• Getting a Urine Test (For Kids) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Reading Your Pathology Report (College of American Pathologists)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Your results may vary: the imprecision of medical measurements.
• Article: Cost-effectiveness analysis of malaria rapid diagnostic tests: a systematic review.
• Article: Recent advances in understanding the phenotypes of osteoarthritis.
• Laboratory Tests -- see more articles

Reference Desk

• Glossary (Food and Drug Administration)
• Index of Glossary Terms (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)

Find an Expert

• Accredited Laboratory and Biorepository Directory (College of American Pathologists)

Children

• Basic Blood Tests (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation)
• Biobanks (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation)
• Blood Culture (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation)
• Tips to Help Children through Their Medical Tests (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)